Machine for slitting and folding fabric



Dec. 18, 1928.

J. F. GA";

MACHINE FOR SLITTING AND FOLDING FABRIC Filed Oct. 5, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 18, 1928.

- 1,695,421 J. 'F. GAIL MACHINE FOR SLITTING AND FOLDING FABRIC Filed Oct. 5, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 a Jam/1 6w 1% WW 5 "13b-5 Dec. 18, 1928. 1,695,421

J. F. GAIL MACHINE FOR SLITTING AND FOLDING FABRIC Filed Oct. 5, 1925 s sn ets-sfieet 3 Z a 3g Evarwr J5 J J5 56 55 56 Dec. 18, 1928. J. F. GAIL mcnnw FOR suwrme AND FOLDING mmuc Filed Oct. 5, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 18, 1928. I 1,695,421

J. F. GA IL MACHINE FOR SLITTING: AND FOLDING FABRIC Filed Oct. 5, 1925 v SSheets-Sheet 5 I Patented Dec. 18, 1928.

um'rensmrss mew oF c- JOHN F. GAIL, or nvnnsron, rumors, nssre-nonro sinuous coMr ivY, onivnw YORK, N. Y.,,A conronnrron or DELAWARE.

Application filed October 5, 1925.. Serial no; 60,382.

My invention relates to machines for operating upon a strip of fabric. to slit the strip longitudinally into a plurality of narrower strips, and to fold the narrower strips into a strip of double thickness, and an object of my invention is to provide such a machine which will slit a comparatively wide strip of fabric into a plurality of strips of confipara tively narrow width, fold the narrow strips upon themselves to form strips of double thickness, and then' to roll the folded strips into a roll to be in convenient form for use.

Another object is to provide such a machine which will fold the narrow strips with a sharp folded edge in order to render the folded strips more easily rolled. It is also an object of my invention to provide such a machine of comparatively simple construction, involving few parts, and which may be adapted to operate on supply strips of a variety of widths by a simple adjustment which may be easily and quickly made.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear when reference is had to the following specification when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein I have illustrated .a selected embodiment of my invention, in which Fig. 1 is a plan. i

Fig. 2 is a side elevation having aportion thereof broken away. i

Fig. 3 is a plan of a portion'of my machine illustrating the arrangement of the slitting knives and furrowing devices.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4- of Fig;

Fig. 5 is a section on the'line 5-5 of-Fig. l. Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the delivery end of the slitting unit of the machine, (the right-hand end of Fig. 3)

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 77 of Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 of 6 Figs. 9 and 10 are diagrammatic illustrations of the method of fur-rowing thcffabric preparatory to the slitting operation.

Fig. 11 is an end elevation of the rolling apparatus as viewed from the right-hand end of Fig. 2.

Fig. 12 is a perspective of the folding de-' vice.

Fig. 13 is a perspective of the roll mounting frame showing the various parts (11821.8 sembled, and

Figs. 1a and 1 5 are sections on thellines 14c.1t and 1515 respectively of Fig. 11.

In the drawings, referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, 20 indicates a supplyof fabric which is to .be slitted into a plurality of strips, in this instance, three in number. Thisv fabric is drawn through a: series'of straightening rolls indicated at 21, through furrowing devices indicated at 22, and a slitting device indicated at 23. From there it is drawn through-folding devices2-i, where the narrow strips are folded to form strips of double thickness, after which they are rolled up in a rolling device indicated at 25. The supply of fabric may conveniently be in a pile where the fabric is folded backa'nd forth upon itself as indicated in Fig. 2.

From'there it is drawn upwardly over a roll 26 ournalled in the upper ends of supporting posts 27 from thence downwardly arounda roll 28 and upwardly over a'roll 29, both of which are journalled in-suitablebrackets on the frame post 30. A series of straightening rolls 31 are journalled in suitable brackets which are secured to a horizontal fra-memember32, The frame-member 32 is supported atone end by the post30and at the other end Y by the side-frame 33, which supports the furrowing and slitting mechanisms. The fabric is threaded over the .two'end rolls and under the intermediate roll, these rolls servi ing to smooth out the fabric preparatory to i i the furrowing and slitting operations. c

The furrowing mechanism, bestshown'in Figs. 3 and 7 comprises horlzontally extendis also supported bybeing attached'ito the side-frames 33 in any suitable-manner. Furrow depth regulating fingers '37 are ing pairs ofsupporting prongs3l andjdownsecured-to a cross-bar 38,.which is rotatably mounted in suitable brackets 39 on the sideframes 33. An extension 40 of the transverse member 38 is provided, as shown in Fig. 3,

on which to secure a hand-lever dlwhereby I the cross-member 38 and fingers37 maybe rotated to raise or lower the outer ends of the said fingers 37. Any suitable means such as set screws l-2-l2 in the brackets 39 may be provided to maintain the lingers 37 in the desired position.

A plurality of pairs of propelling and creasing rolls 43 are secured to upright shafts id and 45 which are adapted to be rotated by any suitable means such as gearing, as shown most clearly in Fig. 6; At the lower end of each of the shafts is secured a spurg'ear -16 which meshes with a-lilie gear t! on the shafts 45. A. beveled gear i8 is also attached to each of the shafts l5 and is adapted to be engaged by beveled gears d9, secured on the shaft 50, which is journalled'in suitable bearings 51 and provided with a pulley 52, whereby the shaft may be rotated by suitable belting connections to a source of power. The bearings 51 are mounted on auend plate 53 which is supported by the side frames 33.

The fabric is drawn through the straight ening or-sinoothing rolls 21 over the supporting prongs 3d, and is furrowedby means of the fingers 35 which are disposed between the prongs of each pair of prongs 34:. Edge guides 5et5 l are provided to support the edges of the fabric and are angularly arranged to parallel theedge of the fabric as it is narrowed because of the material taken up in forming the furrows which 'is more clearly illustrated in the diagrammatic illustrationFig. 9. The furrowed portion of the fabricis then passed between the rolls 55 and 56 ofeach pair of rolls 43 where the bottom of the furrow is creased. The rolls 55 and 56 are preferably roughened or milled as indi: oated, in order to grip the fabric and thereby propel it. In order to render these rolls operable with fabric such as burlap, in which the thickness varies considerably,: and in which heavy'spots sometimes occur, one roll of each pair, for instance, 55, is mounted on a shaft which maybe readily forcedzaway from its coaoting shaft -15. This is accomplished by pivotally mo tinting t 1e lower bearing57 in a bracket 58 as indicated at 59, and by slidhbly mountingthe upper bearing 60 in the bracket .61.. i The roll. 55 is normally pressed toward the roll 56 by means of a spring 62 disposed in a housing 63 and between the bearing block {50 and a dish 6%. The pressure of the spring- 69. may be v ried by means of set screws 65and lock-nut 66.

. The depth of the furrow may be regulated as before described, by means of the finger 37', and the rolls 55 and. 56 are made of a Width which will allow sufficientvariation in furrow depth to take care of the different widthsof fabric supplied. lhe fabric intermediate the pairs of creasing and iiropellingg rolls 4:3 is disposed over the slitting table 6? which is provided with slots odthrough which the furrows pass.

Rotatableslitting knives 69. and are sethe knives may be rotated by a suitable belt drive or by any other suitable means.

To maintain the spread of the fabric during the slitting operation and also to aid in propelling the fabric,fabric engaging devices 76 are disposed on either side of the furrowing and slitting; devices and comprise a, right shaft-s 7*? and 78 on which are mounted sprockets 79 and 80 around which are d' posed endless chains 8l8l. The plurality of fabric engaging pi s or spikes SQprojec" downwardly from the said chains 81 and are adapted to engage the edges of the fabric as they are raised into engagement with the pins, by means of the bottom guides 83. Top guides 8 f are provided with a downwardly inclined tail-i e 85 which serves to disengage the fab? "1121 the fabric-engaging devices 82,'aftcr furrowing and slitting operations have been con'ipleted.

After the slitting operation has been completed, the strip of fabric as drawn from the supply 20 having; been divided into a plurality of narrower strips, in this instance) these are then to be folded upon themselves to form s ips of double thickness, substant-ially 7g; of the width of the ori' inal supply strip. Folding devices for pose, best shown in Figs. 12, 1d and i5, comprise top arms 86, folding chutes or sheaths 87 and inside member 88, all of which are supported by suitable brackets on cross-bar 89, which is supported by up ht posts 90. As best shown in Fi l2, half each'of the narrow strips of fabric is turner over at its crease, forn'ied by rolls 55 and by the top arms 86, and is then passed througgl the chute 87, the inside member 88 servine' keep the to fabric well in the chute 'tllflftOllld in folding the fabric the said crease As an aid to the proper action of the folding device, I prefer to provide deflectingmembers 114, (see 6) mounted on the end of the table-h'i, which serve to d effect an edge of the strip upwardly in the direction in which the fold is to be made, and which members also aid in the slitting operation by separating the edges adjacent theslit as the fabric is propelled thereover. I

After the strips of fabric are thus folded, they are ready for further. use in the mauu-- facture of mattresses or for oth' purposes and it is desirable to roll the .1; into a large roll for convenient handling; and stor= ap'e purposes. To this end, it provide rolin u'iechanisni indicateiilat 25, which conr prises comparatively large drums 91 and 91" pur llO lld

which are securely mounted on shafts .92

and 93 respectively. i The shafts 92 and 93 are ournalled in suitable bearings provided in the brackets 9st and 95 and are provided at one end with spurgears 96and 97 which are adapted to be engaged by a pinion 98. The pinion 98 is mounted on a shaft 99 journalled in the bracket 95, and which has provided at its other end, a pulley 100, adapted to be engaged by a belt 101 which may be driven by any suitable source of-power. By rotating the pinion 98, the gears 96 and 97 are rotated in the same direction, whereby the said drums 91 and 91 are also rotated in the same direc tion, preferably clock-wise The fabric strips to be rolled, are wound one or two turns about a roll 102 by hand the said roll 102 being journalled on a' pin 103,

- on either side of the rolling mechanism. The

guide-arms 108-and 109 are disposed in such a position that they will maintain the roll of fabricformed on the roll 102 in frictional engagement with the drums 91 and92 whereby the fabric roll will be rotated, and t .e fabric drawn through the folding devices 2% of the machine. hen a roll is completed, the upright arms 108 and 109 may be swung on the cross-bar 110 rearwardly as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, to render the roll easily removed therefrom. The weight of the frame 106 and the roll offabric will cause the frame to slide downwardly and out of the guide-arms 108 and 109. The pin 103 may then be removed from the roll 102, and arms 10% and 105 to free the roll from the frame 106 which may then be used again by substituting another roll 102 or by taking the original roll 102 out of the roll of fabric accordingly, as desired.

I am aware that changes in the form and constructionof the various parts of my machine may be materially altered without departing from the spirit of the invention, and

I reserve the right to make all such changes as fairly fall withinthe scope of the following claims.

' I claim as my invention: g

1. In amachine of the character described, means for furrowing, the fabric snpplystrip, means for guiding the edges of said strip as it is narrowed by the furrowing operation, means for slitting the strip intermediate the furrow and an edge of the strip, and means for adjusting the 'furrowing operation to render the edge guiding and slitting mechanism operable for guiding andslitting supply strips of "various w1dths.-

2. In a machine of thecharacter described,

.means for slitting a'strip of fabric into a plustrips, means for creasing wer strips longitud nally rality of narrou c one of said and intermediate its edges and means for subsequently foldingsaid strip at its crease.

In a machine of the character described, means for slitting a stripof fabric into a plurality of narrower strips, means forcrcasing one of said narrower strips longitudinally and intermediate its edges, means for folding said strip at its crease, and means for deflecting an edge of one of the narrower strips inthe direction of the fold beforethe folding operation takes place.

l. in a machine of the character described,

means for creasing a strip of fr bric compris ing a pair of eoacting rolls, means for furrowing the fabric so to facilitate feeding of the fabric bet-ween said rolls, and means for folding the fabric on one side ofthe crease over upon the fabric on the other side thereof.

5. In a machine of the chi racter described, means for folding a strip of fabric comprising a creasing device for creasing the fabric along a line on which it to folded, a folding device for folding the'fabric on one side of the crease over on to the fabricon the other side thereof including a foldingsheath and an inner member for guiding thefabric so that the fold wlll occur on the said crease and means for propelling the fabric through said creasing device and said folding device. 7

'6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for longitudinally slitt ng a strip of fabric along a plurallty of lines so as to form a plurality of narrower strips, leans for preliminarily fnrrowing the fabric intermediate the lines of slitting, and mounting means for said furrowing means for permitting the latter to be adjusted to varythe width of the fabric inthe furrow, whereby said slitting means is in effect, adjustableto slit the fabric strip into a plurality of strips of desired width.

7. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of means for sitting a relatively wide strip of fabric into a plurality of norrow strips, means for maintaining said wide strip spread to a'predetermined widthdurthe slitting operation, means for furrowing the wide strip intermediate the line of slitting and one edge of the strip before it is slitted, and means adjacent the zone of the furrow produced by said furrowmg means for guiding the edge of the fabric into engagement with said spread maintaining means.

8. In a machine ofthe class described, the combination of men. s for slitting a relatively wide strip of fabric into a plurality ofnarrow strips, means for maintalning saidwide strip spread to a predetermined Width during the slitting operation, means for turrowing the wide strip intermediate the line of slitting and one edge of the strip before it is slitted, means adjacentthe Zone of the :turrow produced by said turrowing means for guiding the edge of the fabric into on gagement with said spread maintaining means, and means tor eilecting disengagement of the edge ofthe fabric from said spread maintaining means after the fabric is slitted.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination ot a slitter tor longitudinally slitting a relatively wide strip of fabric into plurality of narrower strips, means for guiding one edge ot the wide strip as it is slitted, means for longitudinally furrowing the fabric before it is slitted, along a line intermediate the guided edge thereof and the line of slitting, and means for mounting said turrowing means so as to permit ad- .Lw 4 ,1, v- 4 -.i1,-,, ust-menithei cot to vary ihe width oi lacinin the furrow, thereby to vary the width of strip slittcd between said guiding means and slitter.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of means for initially furrowing a relatively wide strip of fabric, means for creasing the strip at the bottom ot the furrow, means for slitting the strip intermediate the t'urrow and an edge of the strip operable to propel and to crease t 1e strip at the bottom of the furrow, means for slitting the strip intermediate the furrow and an edge ot the strip so as to divide the wide strip into a plurality of narrower strips, one

otwhich is creased longitudinally, and means A for folding said narrow strip along its crease so as to form narrow strip 01 double thicirness. 7

12. In a ma :hine ot the class described, the combination of means for propelling a relatively wide strip of fabric, means for initially turrowing the strip longitudinally as it is propelled, means for slitting the strip intermediate one oi itsedges and the turrow therein to divide the relatively Wide strip into a plurality of narrower strips, one of which includes a furrow, and means for subsequently folding the fur-rowed strip along the bottom ot'the furrow so as to term a relatively narrow strip of double thicknessi JOHN F. GAIL. 

